Combination removable post and driver



c. G. MATSON COMBINATION REMOVABLE POST AND DRIVER Filed Jan. 18, 1968 PEG. 3

FIG. 2

FEG. 4

INVENTOR. C G MATSON FIG. 5

United States Patent O m 3,519,234 COMBINATION REMOVABLE POST AND DRIVER Carl G. Matson, 401 E. Central Blvd., Kewanee, Ill. 61443 Filed Jan. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 698,939 Int. Cl. EOlf 9/ 01 US. Cl. 248-156 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Basically a two-part post having a lower ground-penetrating part and an upper reciprocably mounted upper part that can be used selectively as a hammer for driving the lower part into or out of the ground and having means for locking the two parts together against relative angular movement after the lower part is inserted into the ground so that display media attached to the upper part cannot be twisted out of viewable position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common practice to erect along highway detours, specially marked routes, sites etc. temporary signs, directions, warning signals and the like, mainly by means of trestles, tripods, stakes and the like, all of which are subject to the disadvantages of cost, instability, short life etc. and are further difficult to install, maintain and remove. In the cases of posts, stakes, etc. these are driven by conventional methods, such as by sledges, tubular drivers and the like and if such stakes or posts are driven into the ground a sufficient distance to secure stability they present a problem in removal, since considerable effort is required to pull them up. In the cases of tripods, trestles, etc., difliculty is encountered in keeping them in place against the forces of the elements, vandals and the like, and this is especially significant in instances of detours, damaged highways and similar cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides essentially a two-part post in which the upper part serves the dual function of a captive element serving to create driving and withdrawing forces and also as a support for display media such as signs, warning flashers, flags and other markers. Since the upper part is a captive hammer, it is always available as a means to drive the lower part or stake into the ground and is still available as a means for withdrawing the stake. Therefore, the stake may be driven to a depth adequate to establish desired stability of the post, and this is augmented by means for locking the upper or hammer part against movement relative to the lower part, both vertically and angularly about the generally common axis of the two parts, which parts in a preferred embodiment are telescopically arranged. Locking of the two parts against relative vertical movement discourages unauthorized removal of the post and looking against angular movement assures that the position of the warning sign etc. is maintained, both against unauthorized displacement and against displacement by the wind, driving rain and the like. As a further feature, the post is provided with means for adequately securing thereto any of a variety of warning and directional media such as road signs, warning flags and lights etc.

I 3,519,234 Patented July 7, 1970 Other features and advantages will occur to those versed 1n the art as a disclosure of a preferred embodiment is presented.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation, with portions broken away and shown in section, of a representative type of post equipped with a plurality of display media.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section, with portions broken away to show the interior construction and drawn to a larger scale.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of signmounting means.

FIG. 4 is a plan of a mounting means.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a mounting means.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The post is a self-contained unit comprising elongated upper and lower parts 10 and 12 respectively. The lower part is shown in form of a rod or the like of cylindrical section having a lower pointed portion 14 adapted to penetrate the ground and an upper mounting portion 16 on which the upper part 10 is mounted for both relative reciprocation and angular movement about the common axis of the two parts, which are here telescopically arranged, the upper part being a sleeve or otherwise of hollow construction of circular section slidably carried on the mounting portion 16 of the lower part 12. Any suitable material, such as steel, may be used in the formation of these parts, and the upper part especially may be of common pipe, providing, say, an inner diameter of 2" and an outer diameter of 2 /2" and having a length on the order of 4 /2 feet; although, these dimensions are not limiting, being given by way of illustration only to orient the structure.

The lower part 12 has rigidly secured thereto, as by welding in known manner, a pair of downwardly pointed blades 18 providing a ground-penetrating spade which serves, when the lower part is driven into the ground, as means for preventing rotation or angular movement of the part as well as means for increasing the stability of the part. The lower part further has a terminal upper end provided by a circular head 20 having upper and lower surfaces 22 and 24, the lower of which affords a striker abutment element. As an alternative to the described construction, the head 20 may of course be formed by any known upsetting method.

The head 20 has a diameter such that it is tolera-bIy received within the inner diameter of the pipe or sleevelike upper part 10, and the cooperation between the head and the upper part is a sliding one, and this is augmented by the provision at the lower end of the sleeve of a circular, centrally apertured collar or hammer 26 that affords a lower striking abutment on the upper part, which abutment may be welded or otherwise rigid ly secured in place. The aperture in the collar is so dimensioned that it tolerably receives the rod or mounting portion 16 of the lower part, and the telescopic or relatively reciproca-ble relationship between the two parts is thus established. The collar 26 is preferably of relatively heavy metal so as to serve as a lower hammer for purposes to be presently described.

This hammer or collar is of course spaced below the lower part head 20 and the vertical spacing between the two defines the limit to which the upper part may be raised, the head and collar establishing cooperative abutment or striker elements. Rigidly secured to the rod or lower part, as by welding, is a circular anvil 28, adapted to be struck by the hammer 26 when the upper part 10 descends. The spacing between the anvil 28 and head is such that the upper part is stable on the lower part; that is to say, its relationship as a continuation or extension of the lower part is such that the two are not easily bent relative to each other, which assures that reciprocation will be relatively free from binding and excess friction.

From the descrption thus far it will be clear that the two parts are preassembled into a permanent, self-contained unit and that in use it is necessary only to place the unit upright os that the spaded point 14 of the lower part 12 can enter the ground. Downward forceful flows or strokes of the upper part effects striking of the anvil 28 by the hammer 26 so that the lower part is driven into the ground, preferably to the limit established by engagement of the ground by the underside of the anvil which leaves the head 20 intermediate the collar and head so that the two parts are appropriately maintained against bending. It is preferable that the anvil and head be spaced apart so that the reciprocation strokes are about 24" long, and the length of the lower part 12 is of proportionate length. Removal or withdrawal of the stake or lower part 12 from the ground involves only the reversal of the above; that is, the upper part 10 is moved on upward forceful strokes so that the collar 26 engages the head 20 from below, and a few impacts will suffice to permit the stake to be withdrawn. Thus the post has a built-in hammer for both removal and insertion of the stake part.

In addition, the upper part serves the further useful function of a support for the attachment of a wide variety of display and like media, representative of width, as shown in FIG. 1, are a road sign 30, a pair of flags 32 and a conventional illuminated flasher 34. However, since the upper and lower parts 10 and 12 are relatively angular movable about their common axis, the display of these media would be defeated unless some means were provided to maintain their initially selected position, such as facing traffic for example. Such means is afforded by the present invention by a locking means or device designated generally at 36 and effective to lock the two parts not only against reciprocation but also against relative angular movement.

Preferably, the collar 26 serves as part of the lock means, in this case being drilled and tapped at 38 to receive a set or looking screw 40 which may be tightened into engagement with the rod or lower part 12 below the head 20. The headed end of the screw may be of any configuration to receive a conventional wrench, but it may also be specially shaped to receive a correspondingly specially shaped wrench as a further safeguard against tampering. It follows of course that a key lock, such as those used to lock automobile steering wheels, may be resorted to in extreme circumstances. As already described, this lock is important from the standpoint of locking the upper part against turning relative to the lower part so that such display media as 30, 32, 34 etc. will retain their originally selected positions.

A simple method of attaching display media to the post upper part 10 is to provide same with a single aperture 42 by means of which a sign or the like may be suspended. By selecting the initial position of the sign, as facing traffic etc., and locking the post parts at 36, the position of such sign can be maintained against the forces of the elements. A more sophisticated arrangement can include a mounting means in the form of a bracket 44, used singly or in multiples. Such bracket may include a sleeve or collar 46 to which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured a strap 48 having parallel bent ends 48, each of which is notched at 50. Each sleeve or collar 46 may be drilled and tapped to receive a locking screw '52, here a wrench type screw, although any form may be used. The sleeve tolerably fits the OD. of the pipe or upper part 10 so as to be selectively adjustable vertically as well as angularly and the screw 52 secures the selected position.

Each bracket strap 48 may have rigidly mounted thereon, in any suitable manner, one or more flag-receiving sockets 54 for receiving the flags 32. Since the top end of the upper part 10 is preferably open, it serves as a socket for receiving the base of the flasher 34, as at 56, and a screw or the like at 58 may be used in the hole 42. When the mounting means or brackets 44 are used in pairs, they may be inverted relatively so that the notches 50* in the upper and lower brackets face respectively downwardly and upwardly to receive the sign 30 between them (FIG. 3), and it will be clear that the type of sign received may be circular, square, diamond, triangular etc. Since the brackets 44 are vertically adjustable, they may be positioned to exert a retaining if not clamping action on the sign. This, in combination with the look at 3-6, assures a substantially permanent arrangement until deliberately changed, and many selective changes are possible.

Since the spade blades 18 fix the angular position of the lower part 12, the lock 36 fixes the corresponding position of the upper sign-supporting part 10', and the selected position of whatever display media are used remains fixed against unauthorized changes or tampering. Also, the penertation of the stake or lower part 12, as augmented by the spade blades 18, assures against unauthorized removal of the assembly. The entire arrangement may be inexpensively manufactured, and use and maintenance thereof are trouble-free. Features not enumerated will readily suggest themselves to those versed in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-contained display mount including a combination post and driver and remover means therefor, comprising an elongated lower part having a lower groundpenetrating portion and an upper mounting portion, an elogated upper part exterior of and disposed generally as an upward continuation of the lower part and mounted on the mounting portion for relative up and down recip rocation and for relative angular movement, cooperative two-way abutment elements respectively on the parts and interengageable upon forceful down strokes of the upper part for driving the lower part into the ground and interengageable upon forceful up strokes of the upper part to withdraw the lower part from the ground, said lower part having rigidly thereon and intermediate its lower and upper portions an anvil having an upper face providing one of the abutment elements and said lower part further having rigidly thereon and spaced upwardly from the anvil a head part providing another of the abutment elements, said upper part having a hammer apertured to receive the lower part intermediate said anvil and head part and having upper and lower faces providing others of said abutment elements and adapted to strike the head part and anvil respectively and selectively upon reciprocation of said upper part, means carried solely by the upper part for carrying a display medium, and lock means additional to said carrying means and carried by the hammer and engageable with the lower part intermediate the anvil and head part for selectively and positively locking the two parts together against relative angular movement as well as against relative reciprocation so as to negative turning of the upper part out of a selected angular position and to negative withdrawal of the lower part by upward forces directed against the abutment means.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 in which the upper part has a top portion including a socket for carrying a further display medium.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 in which the upper part has a substantially greater mass than the lower part 6 so as to facilitate driving and Withdrawing of the lower 2,759,486 8/1956 Pesaturo 17391 part. 2,768,805 10/ 1956 Gribble 248361 4. The invention defined in claim 1 in which the lock 3,143,817 8/1964 Paulson 248-156 means is of a type at least minimizing unauthorized re- 3,304,041 2/1967 Priore 248-125 lease thereof. 3,317,168 5/1967 Ziph 248125 References Cited 5 3,285,554 11/1966 Voelkerding 248-156 UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner 879,052 2/1908 Jeranek 248156 1,412,168 4/1922 Corningore 248125 US. Cl. X.R.

1,423,612 7/1922 Jewett 248-125 10 17391 

